Barwin v. Ninkovich

[rangerdave]

For the team in my signature, I need to move one of my LB. We can only keep four on the active roster. Irving is still eligible for our practice squad. That leaves me with either Barwin or Ninkovich to cut or trade. Barwin is younger and a better pass rusher, but doesn't put up the tackle numbers. Ninkovich had a lot of big plays in 2011, but can he keep it up? Who is the better choice as a bye week/ situational fill-in? What are the trade values of each guy?

[Kaz]

Depends on your scoring for you league honestly. If it's tackle heavy, I'd go with Ninkovich. Sack heavy I'd likely go for Barwin. Overall, I prefer Ninkovich, because i like having steady tacklers more than a do sack specialists.

[rangerdave]

Depends on your scoring for you league honestly. If it's tackle heavy, I'd go with Ninkovich. Sack heavy I'd likely go for Barwin. Overall, I prefer Ninkovich, because i like having steady tacklers more than a do sack specialists.

Scoring rules are:
3 points for every 4 Assisted Tackles (0.75 per)
3 points for every 2 Solo Tackles (1.5 per)
2 extra points when total Solo Tackles is greater than or equal to 10
3 points for every Interception
3 points for every Sack
5 extra points when total Sacks is greater than or equal to 3
3 points for every Fumble Forced
3 points for every Fumble Recovered
2 points for every Safety
6 points for every Defensive TD
2 extra points for every Defensive TD of 50 or more yards
2 points for every XP Blocked
3 points for every FG Blocked
2 points for every Punt Blocked
1 point for every Pass Defended
2 extra points when total Passes Defended is greater than or equal to 3

The biggest factor in my decision may be position eligibility. In 2011, Ninkovich was eligible at both DL and LB. Barwin was a DL. Both are expected to be LB only when Flea Flicker opens up the 2012 season next month. If one of the two retains DL eligibility in addition to LB eligibility, I would keep them as DL get more points for sacks and tackles in this league. I'm not counting on that to happen, though, and I would really like to trade one of them for a draft pick before that time. What round value would these guys be?

[MR ROURKE]

Ninkovich would be my keeper. I think Houston expects to put Reed at WOLB and Barwin at SOLB at some point. That would effect Barwin if that happens, but I have no idea when that would happen. Reed started on WOLB when M.Williams went down, but was then flipped to the other side to put the more seasoned Barwin at WOLB. Both of the players you are considering are likely going to be LB's, but Ninkovich at least has a slight outside chance to retain DL/LB with the Pats flipping between 3-4 and 4-3 base defenses.